Did You Know You Might Reduce Caregiver Stress Through Writing?

July 11, 2018 By David Goldenberg

Caregiver stress can affect people of all ages, even those who have an incredibly close relationship with the person who needs assistance and support. It might be a parent, spouse, or sibling, for example. Just because there is a close personal relationship with this individual doesn’t mean stress won’t occur.

Caregiver in Bryn Mawr PA: Reducing Stress Through Writing

For those family caregivers struggling at the moment, there are strategies that can help.

One of the most effective things people do, or turn to, is understanding the value of home care support services. Home care aides are a valuable asset for men and women of all ages who have any type of difficulty at home with their basic care. It could be for only a few weeks or a couple of months, or it may need to go on indefinitely.

For those men and women who have taken on the role of being a caregiver for somebody in their life, the stress they feel isn’t just going to dissipate because they try to ignore it. There are numerous strategies that can be effective, though, and one of them is to engage in writing.

Why writing?

A person doesn’t have to have any real serious ability or understanding of grammar, spelling, and other factors that go into quality writing to sit down and create a journal, blog, or diary.

Keeping track of what goes on every day, the thoughts this person has on a regular basis, and the other challenges in life can all be powerful. They can be cathartic. By writing these things down, it helps them to bring them to the surface and then deal with them in the right way.

Far too often when we are frustrated, angry, and hostile towards somebody or something, we don’t deal with our emotions properly. The situation can escalate, even when supporting somebody you care tremendously about.

If you were to go home at the end of the day, no matter how tired you are from work, and sit down to write in a journal, even just a few lines about your day, over time you may feel better about things.

This isn’t going to eliminate stress completely from your life. If you want that miracle, then you should seriously sit down and talk about hiring a home care aide. Home care professionals provide many wonderful benefits to aging seniors and disabled adults all across the country. They also help alleviate the pressure and stress far too many family caregivers endure on a daily basis.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Bryn Mawr, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.

Helpful Solutions to Common Issues Family Caregivers Face

March 29, 2018 By David Goldenberg

Being a family caregiver takes careful planning and a willingness to be flexible. Even in the best of situations, you’re going to run into issues from time to time. Use these helpful solutions to get past these hurdles.

Home Care in Dresher PA: Solutions for Common Caregiving Issues

You Have to Take a Trip.

When your job requires you to travel, you don’t always have the ability to say no. If you’re the family caregiver to your mom on a part-time basis, and you suddenly have to take a week-long business trip, it can be a hassle.

Keep a list of back-up caregivers available. You may need your sister to fill in for you for the week. If she can’t cover every day, you might need to split days between a few family friends or relatives. If that fails, talk to a home care agency about added care services while you’re out of town.

Your Parent is Combative.

Some chronic conditions and illnesses can make a parent temperamental. Some seniors with dementia have been known to hit, slap, kick, bite, and shove their caregivers. This can be really hard to handle emotionally and physically.

If this happens, talk to a doctor first. Sometimes, pain can present itself as rage and violence. It could be as simple as a parent having a UTI. Try to find out what triggered the agitation. It might happen at certain times of day. If that’s the case, make that a good time for your parent to spend time alone watching a movie or taking a nap.

Your Parent Won’t Eat.

Your mom loves pan-fried cod. It was always her favorite meal, but you’ve made it and she says it’s disgusting and that the oil you used is rancid. She refuses to eat it. You’ve noticed the only foods she eats now are very sweet. She goes through a bunch of bananas every other day. She’s eating cases of yogurt. She won’t eat foods you cook, however.

As you age, your taste buds change. Cells doesn’t repair as quickly. This can make foods taste dull or unpleasant. Your parent may not be eating because the food doesn’t taste good. Try using fresh herbs and garlic to add flavor. You may also need to try new foods and see if any are appealing.

Don’t let family caregiving weigh too heavily. You don’t need to take on that additional stress. Work with a home care agency to make sure care is always available on the days you need it.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Dresher, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.

Are You Being Too Hard on Yourself as a Caregiver?

December 22, 2017 By Cerie Goldenberg, MSW, LSW

Being strict with yourself isn’t necessarily a bad thing overall, but it can keep you from being the kind of family caregiver that you most want to be. Start looking for ways to help yourself to be kinder to you as you go about your caregiving duties.

Caregiver in Dresher PA: Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself

You’re Going to Be Angry Sometimes.

Too often caregivers feel as if they shouldn’t ever be angry or frustrated or experience any negative emotions. This is not a good mindset for you to fall into because there isn’t anyone who can avoid negative feelings all day, every day. You’re going to experience those negative feelings and if you penalize yourself for them, you’ll find that they get more powerful instead of going away.

No One Can Do it All Alone.

If you’re still trying to do everything yourself, you need to get past that, too. No one can get everything done alone. You’ll need to learn to ask for help and to receive it gracefully. Until you’re able to do that, you’re going to feel overwhelmed and trapped rather than appreciative of this time with your elderly family member.

You Won’t Always Get it Right.

The idea of perfection and getting everything just right can cripple you as a family caregiver. You’re not going to get everything right every single time. In fact, you might find that you’re getting things “wrong” more often than not. But that’s how you learn and grow, both as a person and as a family caregiver. Give yourself permission to not be perfect and accept that you’re doing what you can.

There’s Always Tomorrow.

Even if today isn’t such a great day, remember that there’s always tomorrow. Tomorrow you’ve got another opportunity to have the type of day you want to have with your aging adult. You may find new solutions for your elderly family member, find the perfect senior care providers, or talk to a friend who knows just what to say. Tomorrow holds an entire world of possibilities.

Remember that you’re human and that you have needs, too. When you can do that, it’s easier to accept what you can do and be the best caregiver that you can be.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Dresher, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.

Tips for Avoiding Drowsy Driving

November 16, 2017 By Cerie Goldenberg, MSW, LSW

Approximately 60 percent of drivers in the United States have admitted to regularly driving when they are feeling sleepy or tired, and a startling 37 percent have admitted that they have actually fallen asleep when they were driving. If you are a family caregiver, particularly one who is in the sandwich generation, it is likely that you have been in this position before. Your schedule is busy and you need to manage all of the tasks in one day. You have responsibilities from early in the morning until late at night. Your parent lives at a distance which means long drives to and from their home. Whatever the reason, if you find yourself driving while tired, you are putting yourself and everyone else on the road at risk. Sleepiness impairs your ability to drive in a wide variety of ways, including decreasing vision and judgment, reducing short term memory, slowing reaction time, and increasing aggressive behaviors. Avoiding drowsy driving is an important part of ensuring that you stay safe and that you continue to be there for the people who rely on you.

Caregiver in King of Prussia PA: Avoiding Drowsy Driving

Use these tips to avoid drowsy driving:

Create carpools so that you can reduce the amount that you are driving.
Be sure that you get enough sleep each night and stick to a sleep schedule to reduce sleepiness and grogginess.
Utilize the services of a home care provider to handle some of your parent’s care needs on a regular basis.
Utilize the services of respite care if there is an emergency or you are feeling exhausted.
Ask for additional help from friends and family if you find that you are constantly tired handling all of the needs in your life.
If you are driving and start experiencing signs that you are tired, pull off of the road and rest for a while. If you have your children or your parent with you, call someone to come get them if necessary.

Being a family caregiver can be challenging, but fortunately, there is help. As a family caregiver you do not have to feel that you are alone or that you need to take on all of the care responsibilities for your aging parent on your own. Home care is there to help you fill all of your parent’s care needs in a way that is right for them, while also supporting their independence and quality of life, and ensuring that you can focus on all of the other aspects of your life as well. This can be particularly important if you live at a distance or are in the sandwich generation, raising children as well as caring for your parent. The personalized services of a home care provider ensure that your parent has access to everything that they need to live the quality of life that they deserve both when you are with them and when you are not.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in King of Prussia, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.

Sources

http://drowsydriving.org/

How Do You Ask for Help and Could You Improve Your Method?

October 5, 2017 By Cerie Goldenberg, MSW, LSW

Sometimes the reason that you’re not getting the help that you need as a caregiver is that your approach is slightly off. Try these ideas to tweak your methods.

Caregiver in Collegeville PA: Asking for Help

Guilt Doesn’t Work.

Think about your own response when someone tries to use guilt to motivate you to do something. Chances are that it doesn’t feel good for you. It won’t feel good to your family members, either. Guilt also tends to make people feel defensive and reduces their willingness to help.

Picking Fights Doesn’t, Either.

In your frustration, you might find it easy to lash out at family members that aren’t helping as much as you’d like them to help. Unfortunately, this drives people away from you when you most need their help and support. When you find yourself getting angry, take a deep breath and step back from the situation to allow yourself to cool down.

Be Open about What’s Going On.

The more your other family members know about what you and your elderly family member need, the more likely they’ll be to pitch in more. Information helps them to see what’s happening and to understand why you’re so overwhelmed.

Keep Your Tone Neutral.

If you’re phrasing your requests in a passive-aggressive manner or your tone of voice is angry or otherwise negative, it sets a bad tone for the conversation. Much like guilt, your tone can send your family members running in the opposite direction. You don’t want that, so practice keeping your tone positive or at the very least neutral.

Accept Negative Responses Gracefully and Move to Plan B.

Spare yourself from a drama cycle and learn how to accept the word “no” from your other family members. Truthfully, they may have valid reasons for being unable to help. So smile, let them know that it’s okay, and move down your list. It might even be time to find another option, such as hiring elder care providers who can provide the help that you need.

Modifying your habits with asking for help can take time, so be gentle with yourself. This is a process, so take baby steps and learn from your experiences.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Collegeville, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.

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Did You Know You Might Reduce Caregiver Stress Through Writing?

Helpful Solutions to Common Issues Family Caregivers Face

Are You Being Too Hard on Yourself as a Caregiver?

Tips for Avoiding Drowsy Driving

How Do You Ask for Help and Could You Improve Your Method?

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